title: The pathogenesis of the nervous syndrome of Phalaris aquatica toxicity in sheep.
abstract: The clinical signs displayed by 96 sheep affected by the nervous syndrome of Phalaris aquatica toxicity and 10 normal sheep injected intravenously with the phalaris alkaloid, 5-methoxy dimethyltryptamine (dose range 0.01 to 5.0 mg/kg), were observed. The distributions of phalaris indole-like cytoplasmic pigments in nuclei of the brains and spinal cords of 9 naturally affected sheep were determined microscopically. Based on the relationship between clinical signs and the central nervous system nuclei involved in their production, the distribution of phalaris indole-like pigments, and the pharmacology of dimethylated tryptamines, it is suggested that the nervous syndrome induced by Phalaris aquatica results from a direct action of phalaris alkaloids upon serotonergic receptors in specific brain and spinal cord nuclei.
authors.affiliation: New South Wales Agriculture and Fisheries, Agricultural Research and Veterinary Centre, Orange.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bourke
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carrigan
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000506:poisoning; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008732:Methoxydimethyltryptamines / Q000506:poisoning; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D007211:Indoles; D008732:Methoxydimethyltryptamines; D010860:Pigments, Biological